Aircraft Fuel Storage Device, Management Associated System and Method

ABSTRACT

The device according to the invention comprises at least one main reservoir ( 130 A,  130 B), the or each main reservoir ( 130 A,  130 B) being designed to contain a first batch of fuel. 
     It comprises at least one feed line ( 144 C,  144 D) for supplying a propulsion engine ( 16 A,  16 B) of the aircraft with the first batch of fuel contained in the main reservoir ( 130 A,  130 B). 
     The device ( 18 ) comprises at least one auxiliary reservoir ( 132 ), designed to contain a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch of fuel, the auxiliary reservoir ( 132 ) being connected to the main reservoir ( 130 A,  130 B). The device ( 18 ) comprises an intake line ( 160 ) for bringing the second batch of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir ( 132 ) toward a combustion chamber of the aircraft independent of the or each engine ( 16 A,  16 B) of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to an aircraft fuel storage device, comprising:

-   -   at least one main reservoir, the or each main reservoir being         designed to contain a first batch of fuel;     -   at least one feed line for supplying a propulsion engine of the         aircraft with the first batch of fuel contained in the main         reservoir.

Such a device is in particular intended to be used on a civilian aircraft, such as a passenger and/or freight airplane, or on any other flying vehicle.

In a known manner, the fuel designed for the propulsion of aircraft engines is contained in one or more main reservoirs distributed in the aircraft and connected to one another by fuel transfer systems. Each of the main reservoirs is also connected to each engine of the aircraft to distribute the fuel present in the reservoir allowing the engine to propel the aircraft.

The engine(s) are generally provided with electricity production systems that make it possible to electrically power the various pieces of equipment and systems making up the aircraft.

However, in the event of a breakdown of the main electricity production system, for example in the event of total failure of the engines, it is necessary for a minimal quantity of electricity to be created in the apparatus, so as to preserve critical functionalities to land the aircraft. These functionalities are for example control of the computers and power for the instruments necessary to pilot the vehicle toward the ground.

In the event of a main electricity production failure, the fuel contained in the main reservoirs may be called into question, in particular if that fuel has been contaminated or is not of sufficient quality to allow the combustion thereof in the engines.

As a result, for the purpose of eliminating causes of breakdowns, the aircrafts of the state of the art must have an electricity source that is independent of the fuel present in the main reservoir to offset the failure of that fuel.

In this context, the current standards on civilian aircrafts require that the aircraft have a backup energy production device with an emergency wind turbine, commonly referred to as a “Run Air Turbine” (RAT). Such a device is connected to a hydraulic pump and/or an alternator. It constitutes a backup energy source on an aircraft, which is completely independent from the fuel carried by the aircraft.

The wind turbine is sized so as to produce the extreme emergency needs of the aircraft.

This wind turbine is retracted during normal operation. It is deployed from the cockpit when there is a total loss of primary electricity production.

The reliability of such an auxiliary backup system may be maximally increased, but remains dependent on the mechanical reliability of the deployment system.

One aim of the invention is to obtain an aircraft fuel storage device that increases the reliability of the backup system of the aircraft, in particular when an event occurs requiring the production of backup electricity.

To that end, the invention relates to a device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the device comprises at least one auxiliary reservoir, designed to contain a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch of fuel, the auxiliary reservoir being connected to the main reservoir, the device comprising an intake line for bringing the second batch of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir toward a combustion chamber of the aircraft independent of the or each engine of the aircraft.

The device according to the invention may include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations:

-   -   the auxiliary reservoir is positioned inside a main reservoir;     -   it comprises a transfer pump for transferring the first batch of         fuel toward the auxiliary reservoir;     -   it comprises a backup auxiliary pump, positioned on the intake         line for bringing the second batch of fuel toward the combustion         chamber;     -   the main reservoir contains a first batch of fuel, the auxiliary         reservoir containing a second batch of fuel advantageously         obtained from the first batch of fuel present in the main         reservoir during a preceding flight of the aircraft or from a         fuel source separate from the source of the first batch of fuel;     -   the inner volume of the auxiliary reservoir is less than 15% of         the inner volume of the or each main reservoir.

The invention also relates to an electricity production assembly for an aircraft, comprising:

-   -   a combustion chamber, independent of the or each propulsion         engine of the aircraft;     -   a storage device as defined above, the intake line of the second         batch of fuel connecting the auxiliary reservoir to the         combustion chamber.

The assembly according to the invention may include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations:

-   -   it comprises an intake line for the first batch of fuel,         connecting the main reservoir to the combustion chamber.     -   It comprises:     -   a power turbine, capable of being rotated by a combustion gas         coming from the combustion chamber;     -   a shaft, rotated by the power turbine;     -   at least one alternator capable of being rotated by the rotary         shaft to create electricity during the rotation of the rotary         shaft;     -   the rotary shaft is mechanically connected to a main alternator         and an auxiliary alternator;     -   it comprises a compressor and a cold turbine mounted on the         rotary shaft, the compressor and the cold turbine being         connected to an enclosure intended to be conditioned.

The invention also relates to a method for managing the fuel in an aircraft comprising a storage device as defined above, including the following steps:

-   -   after a first flight phase of the aircraft, transferring a batch         of fuel contained in the main reservoir toward the auxiliary         reservoir to form a second batch of fuel contained in the         auxiliary reservoir;     -   on the ground, filling the main reservoir with a new batch of         fuel, to form a first batch of fuel contained in the main         reservoir, without filling the auxiliary reservoir with the new         batch fuel.

The method according to the invention may include one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all technically possible combinations:

-   -   during a second flight phase of the aircraft after the filling         step, the first batch of fuel is conveyed outside the main         reservoir to supply a propulsion engine of the aircraft.     -   during a flight phase, the second batch of fuel is conveyed         outside the auxiliary reservoir to supply a combustion chamber         independent of the or each propulsion engine of the aircraft.     -   it comprises the following steps:     -   combustion of the second batch of fuel in the combustion chamber         independent of the or each propulsion engine of the aircraft;     -   rotation of a power turbine by a combustion gas coming from the         combustion chamber;     -   electricity production by an alternator rotationally coupled         with the power turbine.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, provided solely as an example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overview flowchart of a first aircraft according to the invention, provided with an autonomous power generation and conditioning system, supplied by a fuel storage device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an overview flowchart of the fuel storage device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an overview flowchart showing the autonomous production assembly in a first operating phase on the ground;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 during a second operating phase on the ground;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 during ignition of the engine;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 during a flight under normal conditions of the aircraft;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 when an engine is restarted;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 during a burnout of the engines;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 during maintenance operations;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the rear portion of an aircraft according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second aircraft according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a third aircraft according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a fourth aircraft returned to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a view of an alternative assembly for providing outside air for the autonomous power production system.

Hereafter, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are generally used in reference to the normal direction of circulation of a fluid.

A first aircraft 10 according to the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by FIG. 1.

In a known manner, this aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 12 delimiting an enclosure 14 designed to be conditioned, in particular in terms of temperature and pressure.

The aircraft 10 comprises at least one engine 16A, 16B, a fuel storage device 18, an electric network 20, and an autonomous electricity production and conditioning system 22.

The enclosure 14 comprises a cabin 24 intended to transport passengers and/or goods, a cockpit 26, intended to transport a crew piloting the aircraft 10, and a cargo compartment 28 intended to transport luggage and/or goods and/or functional equipment of the aircraft.

The passengers, luggage, goods and/or functional equipment must be transported under predefined temperature, pressure, and hygrometry conditions.

The gas present in the enclosure 14 is conditioned by the autonomous system 22 to have a particular temperature and pressure, independent of the temperature and pressure prevailing outside the aircraft 10.

Generally, the temperature of the gas present in the enclosure 14 is kept at a reference usually between 15° C. and 60° C. during operation of the zone of the aircraft to be conditioned. Likewise, the pressure of the gas in the enclosure 14 is kept between the atmospheric static pressure situated outside the aircraft, and that static pressure value plus 800 absolute millibars, depending on the areas of the airplane and the altitude thereof.

The aircraft 10 comprises at least one engine 16A, 16B intended for the propulsion thereof, in particular to enable the takeoff and maintenance in flight thereof.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the aircraft 10 comprises two engines 16A, 16B, the number of engines 16A, 16B more generally being able to be between 1 and 4.

In this example, each engine 16A, 16B is a turbojet engine including a turbine rotated by the combustion of a liquid fuel (such as kerosene) to create thrust.

Each engine 16A, 16B is equipped with an element 30. In the case of an electric-start engine, this element is a main production alternator-starter which, when supplied with electricity, is capable of rotating the engine to ensure the ignition thereof. In the case of an air-start engine, this element 30 is a generator. In both cases, this element is rotatably mounted jointly with the turbine to create electricity transmitted to the electric network 20 when the engine 16A, 16B is active.

The electric network 20 is designed to supply the functional assemblies of the aircraft 10 with electricity.

The electric network 20 in particular powers a computer, in particular a flight control computer, pumps, navigational instruments, and services present in the cockpit 26 and the cabin 24.

As illustrated by FIG. 1, the autonomous system 22 forms an autonomous power module, capable of generating electricity, independently of the elements 30 (alternator-starters or generators), for example when the engines 16A, 16B are stopped.

The autonomous system 22 is also intended to condition the gas present in the enclosure 14, in particular by supplying a cooled compressed gas.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the autonomous system 22 comprises a rotary assembly 40, an upstream assembly 42 for supplying outside air to the rotary assembly 40, a combustion assembly 44 for rotating the rotary assembly 40, and a downstream gas conditioning assembly 46.

The rotary assembly 40 comprises a single rotary shaft 50. It also comprises a power turbine 52, a compressor 54, and a cold turbine 56, which are mounted on the rotary shaft 50.

The rotary assembly 40 also comprises a main alternator 58 and, advantageously, an auxiliary alternator 60, the alternators 58, 60 being mechanically connected to the rotary shaft 50 by a transmission member 61 transmitting the rotational movement of the shaft.

The transmission member 61 is for example a rotational speed modifier capable of driving each alternator 58, 60 at a speed of rotation distinct from that of the shaft 50, such as a speed reducer.

Alternatively, at least one alternator 58, 60 is directly supported on the shaft 50.

As will be seen in more detail below, the rotary assembly 40 is designed to be driven around a shaft axis A-A′ by the power turbine 52. This rotational driving causes the joint rotation of the compressor 54, the cold turbine 56, the main alternator 58, and the auxiliary alternator 60, by means of the transmission member 61, when one is present.

According to the invention, the upstream assembly 42 for supplying outside air is intended to supply the compressor 54 with air from outside the aircraft 10 not having passed through a propulsion engine 16A, 16B of the aircraft 10.

In this example, the supply assembly 42 comprises an outside air intake 70, an upstream heat exchanger 72, and an outside upstream air intake line 74 connecting the outside air intake 70 to a compressor intake 54, through the upstream exchanger 72.

As illustrated by FIG. 10, the outside air intake 70 is for example formed in the fuselage 70A (FIG. 10) of the aircraft 10 to take outside air from the aircraft 10.

This intake may in particular be situated at the base of the vertical stabilizer 70B positioned at the rear of the fuselage, for example in a nozzle 70C.

Alternatively (not shown), the intake 70 is a scoop protruding relative to the fuselage.

According to the invention, the air intake 70 is positioned spaced away from the or each engine 16A, 16B. It is provided with fuel injection means. The outside air taken by the intake 70 does not come into contact with the fuel intended for propulsion of the aircraft 10.

The sizing of the air intake 70 is adapted to the size of the compressor 54 and is independent of the quantity of air present in the or each engine 16A, 16B to ensure the propulsion of the aircraft.

Furthermore, the outside air captured at the intake 70 is not used to create a thrust force on the aircraft.

In FIG. 1, a first outside air bypass line 76 is tapped on the air intake line 74 downstream of the exchanger 72, and upstream of the compressor 54, to supply outside air taken by the air intake 70 downstream of the compressor 54, without passing through the latter.

The first bypass line 76 is provided with a bypass valve 78 of the compressor 54.

The line 76 is intended to oppose the pumping phenomenon in the compressor 54.

The combustion assembly 44 comprises a combustion chamber 80 intended to produce a combustion gas having an increased enthalpy, and a channel 82 for supplying the power turbine 52 with combustion gas.

The combustion chamber 80 is intended to receive fuel coming from the storage device 18 either through a main inlet 84, or through a secondary inlet 86, as will be seen below. The main inlet 84 and the secondary inlet 86 are situated spaced apart from one another, as will be seen below.

The chamber 80 has a compressed air intake inlet 87 coming from the compressor 54 and a combustion gas outlet 88 on which the supply channel 82 is connected.

The chamber 80 is capable of receiving fuel coming from the storage device 18, performing the combustion thereof in the presence of compressed air received by the air intake inlet 87, to produce a gas discharged through the combustion gas outlet 88.

On the other hand, the combustion chamber 80 is incapable of creating a propulsion gas of the aircraft 10. It does not form an engine of the aircraft and is independent of the engine(s) 16A, 16B of the aircraft 10.

In particular, the combustion gases produced in the combustion chamber 80 are not intended or able to rotate a turbine of a propulsion engine 16A, 16B.

In this example, the downstream conditioning assembly 46 comprises a downstream heat exchanger 90, a condenser 92, a separator 94, and a line 96 for conveying the compressed gas in the compressor 54 toward the cold turbine 56. The transport line 96 successively passes through the upstream heat exchanger 72, the downstream heat exchanger 90, the condenser 92, the separator 94, then again through the heater 90, before reaching the cold turbine 56.

The downstream assembly 46 also comprises an expanded cold gas distribution line 98 connecting an output of the turbine 56 to the enclosure 14 through the condenser 92.

The downstream assembly 46 also comprises a compressed air bypass line 100 for supplying the combustion chamber 80.

In FIG. 1, the downstream assembly 46 comprises a direct compressed air bypass line 102 from the compressor 54 toward the enclosure 14, and a bypass line 104 for compressed gas from the exchanger 72 toward the enclosure 14.

The downstream assembly 46 also comprises a direct bypass line 105 of the compressed gas from the compressor 54 toward the cold turbine 56 and toward the condenser 92 to deice those elements.

The upstream heat exchanger 72 is capable of putting the compressed gas from the compressor 54 circulating in the transport line 96 in a heat exchange relationship with the outside air taken in the air intake 70 to cool the compressed gas and heat the outside air.

The downstream heat exchanger 90 is capable of putting the upstream compressed gas circulating in the transport line 96 at the outlet of the upstream heat exchanger 72 in a heat exchange relationship with the downstream compressed gas from the separator 94 circulating in the transport line 96, to heat the downstream compressed gas from the separator 94 and cool the upstream compressed gas at the outlet of the heat exchanger 72.

The condenser 92 is capable of putting the expanded cold gas from the turbine 56 in a heat exchange relationship with the compressed gas from the downstream heat exchanger 90 to cool and potentially partially condense the compressed gas.

The separator 94 is capable of eliminating the liquid phase of the partially condensed compressed gas in the condenser 92 to prevent that liquid phase from entering the cold turbine 56.

The compressed air bypass line 100 is tapped on the transport line 96 between the outlet of the compressor 54 and the heat exchanger 72. It emerges in the combustion chamber 80 at the compressed air supply inlet 87. It is provided with a control valve 106 for the flow of compressed air to be sent toward the combustion chamber 80.

The direct bypass line 102 comprises a shared upstream section 108 provided with a bypass valve 110 and two downstream sections 110A, 1108 intended respectively to connect the cabin 24 and the cockpit 26. Each of the sections 110A, 1108 is provided with a valve 112A, 1128 for controlling the injected flow rate.

The compressed gas bypass line 104 is tapped upstream on the transport line 96 between the upstream heat exchanger 72 and the downstream heat exchanger 90. It emerges downstream on the distribution line 98, downstream of the condenser 92. It is provided with a control valve 114 for the bypassed compressed gas flow.

In FIG. 1, the autonomous power production and conditioning system 22 also comprises an auxiliary backup conditioning assembly 116.

This auxiliary assembly 116 includes a backup air intake 118, a backup heater 120, and a backup ventilation valve 122 that emerges in the enclosure 14.

The backup air intake 118 is independent and is distinct from the air intake 70. The backup heater 120 is independent from the combustion chamber 80 and the engines 16A, 16B. The heater 120 is advantageously an electric heater electrically powered by the network 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fuel storage device 18 comprises, according to the invention, at least one main reservoir 130A, 130B, at least one auxiliary reservoir 132 arranged in the main reservoir 130A, and a selective fuel distributor 134 toward the or each engine 16A, 16B and toward the combustion chamber 80.

As illustrated by FIG. 2, the aircraft 10 generally comprises a plurality of main reservoirs 130A, 130B arranged in the wings or in the fuselage 12 of the aircraft. Each main reservoir 130A, 130B can contain a first batch of liquid fuel intended to supply the engine(s) 16A, 16B for propulsion of the airplane.

Each main reservoir 130A, 130B is also intended to supply the combustion chamber 80 in a normal operating mode.

When several main reservoirs 130A, 130B are present, the reservoirs 130A, 130B are connected to one another to make it possible to balance the quantity of fuel in the various reservoirs 130A, 130B during the flight phases.

Each reservoir 130A, 130B is provided with an inlet 136A, 136B for supplying a first batch of fresh fuel, the inlet 136A, 136B being intended to fill the reservoir 130A, 130B between two flights.

According to the invention, the auxiliary reservoir 132 is intended to contain a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch of fuel. The second batch of fuel is for example made up of the first batch of fuel used during a preceding flight, or a batch of fuel obtained from another filling vehicle different from that used to fill the or each main reservoir 130A, 130B with fuel.

When a second filling vehicle is used, the second batch of fuel can be filtered and/or tested beforehand to verify the quality and reliability thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the auxiliary reservoir 132 is positioned inside the main reservoir 130A. It advantageously shares at least one outer wall 138 with the main reservoir 130A. The auxiliary reservoir 132 is delimited by an insulating wall 140 sealed against the fuel present in the inner volume of the reservoir 130A containing it.

The volume of the auxiliary reservoir 132 is less than 15% of the volume of the main reservoir 130A.

The main reservoir 130A and the auxiliary reservoir 132 are connected to one another by a fuel exchange pump 142 between the main reservoir 130A and the auxiliary reservoir 132.

An overpressure valve 143 also connects the auxiliary reservoir 132 to the main reservoir 130A.

The insulating wall 140 is for example flexible and deformable so that the auxiliary reservoir 132 has a variable volume depending on the quantity of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir. Alternatively, the insulating wall 140 can be a rigid wall, defining a constant volume.

The distributor 134 comprises, for each main reservoir 130A, 130B, a supply line 144C, 144D connecting the reservoir 130A, 130B to each engine 16A, 16B.

Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the first main reservoir 130A is connected to the first engine 16A by a first supply line 144C and is connected to the second engine 16B by a second supply line 144D. Likewise, the second main reservoir 130B is connected to the first reactor 16A by a first supply line 144C and to the second reactor 16B by a second supply line 144D.

Each of the supply lines 144C, 144D is provided with pumping means 146 for the first batch of fuel.

Furthermore, to make it possible to supply the combustion chamber 80, the distributor 134 comprises at least one first fuel intake line 148 into the combustion chamber 80 intended to convey, into the chamber 80, the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A. This line 148 is provided with a pump 150 and a flow rate control valve 152. The first line 148 emerges in the combustion chamber 80 through the main inlet 84.

According to the invention, the distributor 134 also comprises a second intake line 160 for bringing fuel into the combustion chamber 80 intended to convey the second batch of fuel present into the auxiliary reservoir 132.

The second intake line 160 supplies the chamber 80 exclusively with fuel from the second batch present in the auxiliary reservoir 132, without being mixed with or contaminated by the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A.

The second line 160 is provided with a backup auxiliary pump 162 and a flow rate control valve 164. The second line 160 emerges into the combustion chamber 80 through the secondary inlet 86, at a distance from the main inlet 84. This ensures that an obstruction of the main inlet 84 does not prevent the distribution of the second batch of fuel in the combustion chamber 80.

To ensure the renewal of the batch of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir 132, a discharge connection 166 is provided on the second intake line 160, downstream of the pump 162. This discharge connection 166 is for example oriented toward a discharge outside the aircraft 10 or to a main reservoir 130B.

To guarantee that the auxiliary reservoir 132 of the storage device 18 always comprises a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch and that is reliable, the filling method of the device 18 is as follows.

During the first filling of the reservoirs, before a flight of the aircraft 10, the main reservoir 130A, 130B is filled with a first batch of fuel through the inlet 136A, 136B.

The secondary reservoir 132 is filled with a second batch of fuel coming from a source distinct from the first batch of fuel supplied in the main reservoir 130A, 130B. In this way, two distinct fuel filling vehicles respectively containing the first batch of fuel and the second batch of fuel are generally used. The second batch of fuel can be filtered and/or tested beforehand to verify the integrity and reliability thereof.

During the flight, the first batch of fuel is used to supply the engines 16A, 16B for propulsion of the aircraft, through the supply lines 144A, 144B.

Once the aircraft 10 has landed and before a subsequent flight of the aircraft 10, part of the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A is conveyed toward the auxiliary reservoir 132, through the fuel exchange pump 142, after discharging the second batch of fuel present in the auxiliary reservoir 132 through the discharge connection 166.

The first batch of fuel having served for propulsion of the aircraft 10 during the earlier flight, it is considered reliable and healthy. This fuel then forms a second batch of fuel for the subsequent flight, the reliability of which is guaranteed.

Then, the main reservoir 130A is again filled with a new first batch of fuel.

This filling method guarantees that reliable fuel is always present in the auxiliary reservoir 132. This ensures that the combustion chamber 80 can be supplied with reliable fuel in case of emergency, as will be described below.

The operation of the autonomous power production and conditioning system 22 according to the invention will now be described, in the various embodiments thereof, using FIGS. 3 to 10.

Initially, in a machine startup mode, in reference to FIG. 3, the aircraft 10 is on the ground. The engines 16A, 16B are off.

To start the autonomous system 22, the electric network of the aircraft 20 comprising batteries is electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator 60 to supply said alternator 60 and cause it to operate as an engine. The rotation of the auxiliary alternator 60 makes it possible to test the proper operation thereof before each flight, so as to guarantee that it will be operational in case of emergency, and in particular in the event the main alternator 58 fails.

The rotational driving of the shaft 50 by the auxiliary alternator 60 causes the rotation of the compressor 54 and the suction of outside air through the air intake 70, and the outside air intake line 74. This outside air does not pass through a propulsion engine of the aircraft. It lacks fuel.

The valve 106 is then opened to make it possible to supply the combustion chamber 80 with the compressed air from the compressor 54 through the bypass line 100.

When the flow of air circulating toward the combustion chamber 80 through the bypass line 100 is sufficient, fuel from the main reservoir 130A, 130B is injected into the combustion chamber 80 through the supply line 148 and the valve 152.

The combustion chamber 80 is then ignited to cause the combustion of the fuel, which creates a pressurized combustion gas. The pressure of the combustion gas is for example greater than 1.5 bar, and the temperature thereof is higher than 600° C.

This combustion gas is then extracted through the supply channel 82 and is conveyed to the power turbine 52.

When the power turbine 52 has enough energy to rotate the shaft 50 independently, the auxiliary alternator 60 is deactivated.

Once this is done, in a nominal operating mode of the system 22 on the ground, or with engines off, shown in FIG. 4, a continuous flow of outside air is suctioned by the air intake 70 and the intake line 74. This outside air is injected at the inlet of the compressor 54 to produce a compressed gas delivered into the transport line 96.

The pressure of the compressed gas from the compressor 54 is for example greater than 1.5 bar (on the ground or at a low altitude, less than 15,000 feet).

Part of the compressed gas from the compressor 54 is then conveyed to the upstream heat exchanger 72.

Then, the compressed gas from the upstream heat exchanger 72 is introduced into the downstream heat exchanger 90 to be cooled therein. The compressed gas from the downstream heat exchanger 90 then goes into the condenser 92 to be partially condensed therein by heat exchange with the expanded gas from the cold turbine 56 circulating in the downstream line 98.

The partially condensed compressed gas then penetrates the separator 94, where the liquid fraction it contains is eliminated.

This compressed gas is then introduced into the downstream heat exchanger 90 to be heated therein by heat exchange with the compressed gas from the exchanger 72, before being introduced into the cold turbine 56.

Then, the compressed gas is expanded dynamically in the cold turbine 56 to produce an expanded gas cooled to a lower temperature comprised between 3° C. and 20° C. This temperature is below the temperature of the compressed gas from the compressor 54. The pressure of the expanded gas is at least greater than the reference pressure.

The expanded cooled gas is then passed into the condenser 92 through the downstream distribution line 98, before being distributed in the enclosure 14, in particular in the cabin 24, the cockpit 26, and the cargo area 28.

To that end, and to ensure the temperature, pressure, and hygrometry reference in the cabin 24 and the cockpit 26, the expanded cooled gas from the condenser 92 is mixed with pressurized compressed gas bypassed by means of the direct bypass line 102. The flow control valves 112A, 112B are thus selectively steered to guarantee a gas injection at a temperature, pressure, and hygrometry selectively commanded in the cabin 24 and the cockpit 26. Generally, the cargo area 28 is supplied with gas extracted outside the cabin 24 and the cockpit 26.

It is therefore possible to condition the gas present in the enclosure 14, even when the engines 16A, 16B are off. The system 22 is capable of performing that conditioning independently.

When the shaft 50 is rotated, the main alternator 58 operates as a generator and provides electric power to the electric network 20 of the aircraft, and in particular to the batteries present in the network 20.

Then, in an electric-start mode of the engines 16A, 16B, in reference to FIG. 5, the engines 16A, 16B can be started up using alternator-starters 30.

To that end, the electric network 20 electrically powers each alternator-starter of the engine 30 so that it operates as an engine and rotates the turbine present in the engines 16A, 16B.

A flow of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A, 130B is then injected into the engines 16A, 16B through the intake lines 144C, 144D. The or each engine 16A, 16B is then started as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Once the or each engine 16A, 16B is started, the aircraft 10 can take off.

In an alternative air-start of the engines 16A, 16B, compressed gas from the compressor 54, taken upstream of the heat exchanger 72, is bypassed toward the or each engine 16A, 16B to rotate the turbines of those engines. The engine 16A, 16B is then started under the effect of that air circulation without it being necessary to use an alternator-starter, the sole purpose of the generator 30 in that case being to generate the current when the engines are operating.

A “complementary electric cogeneration” nominal operating mode, during a flight phase or a ground phase with engines on, is shown in FIG. 6. In this mode, the elements 30 present on the engines 16A, 16B operate as generators and supply the electric network 20 with electricity.

Likewise, the combustion chamber 80 continues to operate continuously, independently relative to the engines 16A, 16B, which ensures the conditioning of the enclosure 14 as described above and which produces complementary electricity for the electric network 20 of the aircraft 10, in particular when additional electricity is necessary.

In an in-flight start-up mode shown in FIG. 7, where an engine 16A, 16B shuts down during flight, the engine 16A, 16B may be restarted from the electricity supplied by the autonomous production system 22 according to the invention.

In that case, the shaft 50 is rotated by supplying the power turbine 52 with combustion gas from the combustion chamber 80. The main alternator 58 then acts as an electricity generator powering the electric network 20. In the case of electric-start engines, this electricity is used to power the alternator-starter 30 of the engine 16A, 16B to be restarted. The alternator-starter 30 then operates as an engine.

Alternatively, the engine 16A, 16B is restarted with air using the compressed gas from the compressor 54, as previously described.

FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the system 22 in a mode with a loss of main electricity production. Such a mode for example occurs in the event of total burnout of the engines 16A, 16B, i.e. when all of the engines 16A, 16B of the device are unusable, and/or when the alternator-starters (in alternator mode) or the generators 30 no longer supply electrical power.

During this emergency procedure, the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A, 130B can be considered a potential source of breakdowns (fuel pollution). In that case, to guarantee a minimal electricity supply for the essential functionalities of the aircraft, the second batch of fuel present in the auxiliary reservoir 132 is used.

To that end, the fuel present in the auxiliary reservoir 132 is transported through the second supply line 160 by means of the pump 162 and the flow control valve 164 to the combustion chamber 80.

The combustion chamber 80 is therefore supplied with fuel by a second batch of fuel that is healthy unreliable, since that fuel was used without problems during an earlier flight, or was specifically tested on the ground.

In the event the main alternator 58 is broken, the auxiliary alternator 60, which has been tested beforehand during the start-up of the aircraft 10, is used to operate as an electricity generator.

The rotation of the shaft 50, caused by the combustion of the second batch of fuel in the chamber 80, jointly rotates the auxiliary alternator 60. This creates a minimum quantity of electricity provided to the electric network 20 of the aircraft 10, for example between 6 kW and 50 kW. The minimal flight control and instrumentation functions of the aircraft 10 are thus ensured to allow the aircraft 10 tend to land.

A low flow of gas, shown by the arrows in broken lines in FIG. 8, can then circulate between the compressor 54, the turbine 56, the cabin 24, and the cargo area 28.

FIG. 9 illustrates a maintenance mode of the aircraft 10, done on the ground, in which the main alternator 58 and/or the auxiliary alternator 60 are rotated from the combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber 80 independent of the engine(s) 16A, 16B. The alternators 58, 60 are in particular tested in this mode to verify the proper operation thereof.

A second aircraft 210 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 11. Unlike the first aircraft 10, the rotary assembly 40 of the autonomous system 22 comprises an auxiliary compressor 212 in addition to the main compressor 54.

The transport line 96 thus comprises an upstream section 214 connecting the main compressor 54 to the auxiliary compressor 212, and a downstream section 216 connecting the auxiliary compressor 212 to the upstream heat exchanger 72 and then to the cold turbine 56.

The upstream section 214 is provided with an upstream supply valve 218 of the auxiliary compressor 212.

Unlike the first aircraft 10, the compressed air bypass line 100 is tapped on the upstream section 214, upstream of the upstream valve 218. A return bleed 220 connects the control valve 106 of the bypass line 100 to the downstream section 216, to produce a bypass around the downstream compressor 212.

The bypass line 102 is tapped on the downstream section 216, downstream of the auxiliary compressor 212, and upstream of the upstream exchanger 72.

The autonomous generation and conditioning system 22 is also similar to that of the first aircraft 10.

The operation of the autonomous system 22 of the second aircraft 210 differs from the operation of the autonomous system 22 of the first aircraft 10 in that the compressed gas current obtained at the outlet of the first compressor 54 first passes in the upstream section 214, through the upstream valve 218 as far as the auxiliary compressor 212.

A first portion of the gas current compressed at a first pressure in the first compressor 54 is bypassed toward the combustion chamber 80 through the bypass line 100 and the control valve 106, upstream of the auxiliary compressor 212.

A second portion of the compressed gas current is then recompressed in the auxiliary compressor 212 to reach a pressure greater than the pressure of the gas obtained at the outlet of the main compressor 54.

Then, the compressed gas from the auxiliary compressor 212 is oriented toward the cold turbine 54 through the main exchanger 72, the downstream heat exchanger 90, the condenser 92, the separator 94, and the downstream heat exchanger 90 again, as previously described.

In one alternative, the compressed gas from the upstream exchanger 72 is sent directly into the enclosure 14 by means of the compressed gas bypass line 104 and the control valve 114, without passing through the cold turbine 56.

A third aircraft 230 according to the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by FIG. 12.

The third aircraft 230 differs from the second aircraft 210 in that the auxiliary conditioning assembly 116 comprises a backup heat exchanger 232 replacing the heater 120. The exchanger 232 is capable of putting a hot gas current taken from a propulsion engine 16A of the aircraft in a heat exchange relationship with a current of outside air taken through the backup air intake 118.

The outside air current thus heated is brought toward the enclosure 14 by a backup cold air intake line 234 provided with a control valve 236 for controlling the backup cold air flow rate.

Furthermore, the auxiliary assembly 116 comprises a hot air intake line 238 from a propulsion engine 16A of the aircraft emerging in the enclosure 14. The line 238 is provided with a control valve 240 for the backup hot air flow sent toward the enclosure 14.

In the event the autonomous system 22 fails, cold air is taken through the backup air intake 118. This cold air is partially heated in the backup exchanger 232, before being at least partially transported toward the enclosure 14 through the line 234 and the valve 236.

Hot air can also be provided to balance the temperature. This hot air is taken directly in the propulsion engine 16A of the aircraft and is conveyed toward the enclosure 14 through the hot air intake line 238 and the control valve 240.

A fourth aircraft 250 according to the invention is illustrated by FIG. 13.

Unlike the second aircraft 210 according to the invention, the rotary assembly 40 does not have an auxiliary compressor.

The production assembly 22 comprises an intermediate compression module 252 comprising an auxiliary compressor 212 driven independently by an engine 254 mechanically independent of the power turbine 52 and the rotation of the shaft 50.

The auxiliary engine 254 is for example an electric motor rotated by means of electricity supplied by the electric network 20 of the aircraft 250. Alternatively, the engine 254 is supplied with a combustion gas from the combustion chamber 80.

As previously described, the transport line 96 includes an upstream section 214 extending between the outlet of the main compressor 54 and the inlet of the auxiliary compressor 212 and a downstream section 216 extending between the outlet of the auxiliary compressor 212 and the inlet of the cold turbine 56.

In one advantageous alternative, a bypass line 256 of the auxiliary compressor 212 is provided with a bypass valve 258 and connects a point upstream of the auxiliary compressor 212 to a point situated downstream of the auxiliary compressor 212.

The operation of the fourth aircraft 250 differs from the operation of the second aircraft 210 in that electricity is supplied to the engine 254 by the electric network 20 to rotate the auxiliary compressor 212 when the main compressor 54 is rotated by the shaft 50 under the effect of the rotation of the power turbine 52.

Alternatively, the compressor 54 is partially supplied by a gas current coming from a propulsion engine 16A, 16B, in addition to the supply of outside air from the upstream assembly 42.

Owing to the described invention, it is therefore possible to have an autonomous electricity production and conditioning system 22, which has a compact structure. The autonomous system 22 guarantees complete independence between the thermodynamic operation of the propulsion engine(s) 16A, 16B of the aircraft, the electricity production necessary for the services of the aircraft, and the conditioning of the gas present in the enclosure 14 of the aircraft.

Such an arrangement significantly reduces the weight and bulk of the aircraft, while ensuring minimum fuel consumption.

The presence of a fuel storage device 18 according to the invention provided with an auxiliary reservoir containing a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir 130A, 130B guarantees an absence of contamination and a potential energy source for the aircraft, in particular when the engines 16A, 16B of the aircraft are not capable of propelling it and creating enough electricity.

When the device 18 is used in combination with an auxiliary alternator 60 that is not used under normal flight conditions, but which is tested at the beginning of each flight, the aircraft has an autonomous system 22 capable of particularly safely producing backup electricity offsetting a major failure of the propulsion engine(s) 16A, 16B as described in the main electricity production loss mode illustrated by FIG. 8. Such a system could replace a traditional backup energy production device of the Run Air Turbine type. This system 22 is significantly more reliable relative to a RAT system comprising a wind turbine.

In one alternative illustrated in FIG. 14, the upstream air supply assembly 42 comprises an auxiliary supply bleed 70D for circulating outside air toward the upstream heat exchanger 72. The auxiliary supply bleed 70D is tapped upstream of the upstream heat exchanger 72 on the upstream line 74. It passes through the upstream heat exchanger 72. It comprises, upstream or downstream of the upstream heat exchanger 72, a movable outside air driving member, such as a propeller 70E. The propeller 70E is electrically powered by the electric network of the airplane 20.

This arrangement supplies a sufficient quantity of outside air circulating through the exchanger 72, in particular when the aircraft 10 is stopped, or on the ground.

In this arrangement, an additional bypass line 70F can be provided on the line 74, to go around the heat exchanger 72 and supply the compressor 54 directly.

In alternatives, the system 22 does not have a line 76, a line 102, a line 105, or a return bleed 220. It may also be provided without an auxiliary assembly 116.

“Line” generally refers, within the meaning of the present invention, to any hollow element capable of transporting a fluid between two points, and not necessarily a tubular element. 

1. An aircraft fuel storage device (18), comprising: at least one main reservoir (130A, 130B), the or each main reservoir (130A, 130B) being designed to contain a first batch of fuel; at least one feed line (144C, 144D) for supplying a propulsion engine (16A, 16B) of the aircraft with the first batch of fuel contained in the main reservoir (130A, 130B); characterized in that the device (18) comprises at least one auxiliary reservoir (132), designed to contain a second batch of fuel separate from the first batch of fuel, the auxiliary reservoir (132) being connected to the main reservoir (130A, 130B), the device (18) comprising an intake line (160) for bringing the second batch of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir (132) toward a combustion chamber of the aircraft independent of the or each engine (16A, 16B) of the aircraft.
 2. The device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that auxiliary reservoir (132) is positioned inside a main reservoir (130A, 130B).
 3. The device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a transfer pump (142) for transferring the first batch of fuel toward the auxiliary reservoir (132).
 4. The device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a backup auxiliary pump (162), positioned on the intake line (160) for bringing the second batch of fuel toward the combustion chamber (80).
 5. The device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main reservoir (130A, 130B) contains a first batch of fuel, the auxiliary reservoir (132) containing a second batch of fuel advantageously obtained from the first batch of fuel present in the main reservoir (130A, 130B) during a preceding flight of the aircraft (10) or from a fuel source separate from the source of the first batch of fuel.
 6. The device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner volume of the auxiliary reservoir (132) is less than 15% of the inner volume of the or each main reservoir (130A, 130B).
 7. An autonomous electricity production system (22) for an aircraft, comprising: a combustion chamber (80), independent of the or each propulsion engine (16A, 16B) of the aircraft; and a storage device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, the intake line (160) of the second batch of fuel connecting the auxiliary reservoir (132) to the combustion chamber (80).
 8. The system (22) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an intake line for the first batch of fuel, connecting the main reservoir (130A, 130B) to the combustion chamber (80).
 9. The system (22) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises: a power turbine (52), capable of being rotated by a combustion gas coming from the combustion chamber (80); a shaft (50), rotated by the power turbine (52); and at least one alternator (58, 60) capable of being rotated by the rotary shaft (50) to create electricity during the rotation of the rotary shaft (50).
 10. The system (22) according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotary shaft (50) is mechanically connected to a main alternator (58) and an auxiliary alternator (60).
 11. The system (22) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a compressor (54) and a cold turbine (56) mounted on the rotary shaft (50), the compressor (54) and the cold turbine (56) being connected to an enclosure (14) intended to be conditioned.
 12. A method for managing the fuel in an aircraft comprising a storage device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes the following steps: after first flight phase of the aircraft, transferring a batch of fuel contained in the main reservoir (130A, 130B) toward the auxiliary reservoir (132) to form a second batch of fuel contained in the auxiliary reservoir (132); and on the ground, filling the main reservoir (130A, 130B) with a new batch of fuel, to form a first batch of fuel contained in the main reservoir (130A, 130B), without filling the auxiliary reservoir (132) with the new batch fuel.
 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that during a second flight phase of the aircraft after the filling step, the first batch of fuel is conveyed outside the main reservoir (130A) to supply a propulsion engine (16A, 16B) of the aircraft.
 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that during a flight phase, the second batch of fuel is conveyed outside the auxiliary reservoir (132) to supply a combustion chamber (80) independent of the or each propulsion engine (16A, 16B) of the aircraft.
 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: combustion of the second batch of fuel in the combustion chamber (80) independent of the or each propulsion engine of the aircraft (16A, 16B); rotation of a power turbine (52) by a combustion gas coming from the combustion chamber (80); and electricity production by an alternator (60) rotationally coupled with the power turbine (52). 